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Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: Clariphant in Bb
Date: 2007-02-19 00:45

The first of the two layers of bladder on my Bb/Eb side key has just come off, but it still seals perfectly with just one layer. It's the only real problem with my clarinet at the moment, and I was wondering if you guys think that I should get the pad replaced now or wait until something more urgent occurs in the future and just get it replaced at the same time. Is this pad just waiting to fall apart or is it safe to use?

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: pewd
Date: 2007-02-19 00:50

have it replaced immediately

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-02-19 01:17

if a layer came off a pad then I guess that clarinet hasn't been to the doctor for a while.
take it to a repair shop- there are likely a few other things in need of a tune up, too.

Post Edited (2007-02-19 04:30)

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: GBK
Date: 2007-02-19 02:22

If you are going to change the pad, have the tech also replace both the G#/Ab and A throat key pads as well as the left pinky upper joint C#/G#.

If they don't need replacing now - they surely will soon ...GBK

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: mk
Date: 2007-02-21 00:47

replace asap...

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-02-21 13:26

Have the side Eb/Bb and C#/G# pads replaced with cork pads.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-02-21 22:51

It may well last another year or two on the single membrane. You really have no way of knowing. There was a time when single-membrane pads were very common. I did not find them to be extraordinarily unreliable.

GBK wrote
"If you are going to change the pad, have the tech also replace both the G#/Ab and A throat key pads as well as the left pinky upper joint C#/G#. If they don't need replacing now - they surely will soon"

I find that the membrane varies a bit from pad to pad, and just because ONE pad has gone, that does not necessarily mean that others will soon follow. It is quite easy to test a pad with a suitable dental probe to determine if it is going to fail in the near future.

However if SEVERAL pads have failed, then I would expect more to soon follow.

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Re: Half-Torn Double Bladder Pad

Author: GBK
Date: 2007-02-21 23:15

Gordon (NZ) wrote:

> However if SEVERAL pads have failed, then I would expect more
> to soon follow.

I have found that to always be the case.

I am a believer in preventive maintenance. If you have your clarinet in for servicing with any of the better techs (who are usually quite busy and with appointments often needing to be scheduled well in advance) it would be prudent to have a few pads changed (even if they still have a bit more life left in them) rather than risk failure during a performance.

Then again, there ARE cork pads [wink]

[wink]

...GBK

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